#6/6 Men’s Basketball Hosts Montana on Friday Afternoon

HOUSTON – Coming off a championship run, the University of Houston Men's Basketball program returns to the friendly confines of the Fertitta Center when it plays host to Montana at 3 p.m., Friday.

#6/6 Houston enters Friday's game after winning four games last week, including three over a four-day stretch to capture the championship at the Shriners Children's Charleston Classic in Charleston, S.C. The Cougars enjoyed wins over Towson, Utah and Dayton to claim the title.

Senior guard LJ Cryer was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after averaging 16.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assist per game while hitting 45.8 percent from behind the arc. Senior point guard Jamal Shead posted 13.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and led the Cougars with 5.7 assists per game to earn a place on the All-Tournament Team.

This season, Cryer leads the Cougars and ranks ninth in the Big 12 with 15.8 points per game and is third in the league with 2.6 3-point field goals per contest.

Shead leads Houston and stands fourth in the Big 12 with 6.2 assists per game.

Fight Hunger Game, Emanuel Sharp

GAME PROMOTIONS
• Friday will be the Cougars' annual Fight Hunger Game. Fans are encouraged to bring and donate a canned food or non-perishable item at the Fertitta Center doors as they enter in support of UH Peeps Pantry.
• Elizabeth Karkowsky will perform the national anthem before the game.
• Two fans will play Cougar Chomp on the Fertitta Center court at halftime.

MAJOR MILESTONES
• Senior point guard Jamal Shead and senior forward J'Wan Roberts are closing on impressive milestones during their award-winning careers.
• Shead needs only three more assists to become the seventh Cougar in school history with 500 assists during his career.
• With a win against the Grizzlies, Roberts will become the first Cougar in school history to enjoy 50 wins inside the Fertitta Center. The St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, has posted a 49-3 career record inside the Cougars' home facility in his career and is currently tied for first with guard Marcus Sasser and forward Fabian White Jr.
• Shead is a close second with a 48-3 record inside the Fertitta Center.

TUNE IN
• Fans can watch Friday's game on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with Matt Pedersen (play-by-play), Houston great Reid Gettys (analyst) and Abby Christopherson (reporter) calling the action.
• Fans can hear Friday's game on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app with Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) and Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes (analyst) calling the action. The pregame show begins at 2:45 p.m., Friday.
• Fans can follow live stats by visiting StatBroadcast.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

ABOUT MONTANA
• Montana brings a 2-2 record into Friday's game inside Fertitta Center.
• The Grizzlies are 0-1 in road games in 2023-24.
• In its most recent action, Montana dropped a 78-69 decision to North Dakota State in Missoula, Mont., on Nov. 16.
• Against North Dakota State, senior forward Laolu Oke posted 11 points with 11 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies. Graduate guard Aanen Moody finished with a team-high 18 points while junior forward Te'Jon Sawyer came off the bench to score 15 points with four rebounds. Senior guard Brandon Whitney led the way with a game-high five assists.
• This season, Moody leads Montana with 18.3 points per game. Freshman guard Money Williams stands second with 12.5 points per game while senior forward Dischon Thomas is third with 11.5 points per contest. Oke leads the Grizzlies with 6.3 rebounds per game and Whitney is tops with 3.0 assists per game.
• Head Coach Travis DeCuire is in his 10th season at Montana and as a collegiate head coach.
• DeCuire has posted a 179-114 record with Montana and during his career.
• Friday's game will be the first time DeCuire has faced Houston during his career.
• Friday's game marks the first time DeCuire has faced Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson during their careers.
• 1994 graduate of Montana.

SERIES HISTORY vs. MONTANA
• Houston owns a 1-0 lead against Montana in the series
• Friday's game will be the first meeting between the two schools since a 60-58 Houston win at the NAIB Tournament in Kansas City, Mo., on March 11, 1947.
• Friday's game will be the first time Houston has faced the Grizzlies during the regular season.
at Home: Friday's game will be the first time Houston has faced Montana in Houston.
in Fertitta Center: Friday's game will be the first time Houston has faced Montana in Fertitta Center.

UP NEXT
• Following Friday's game, Houston opens the month of December when it meets Xavier at 5:30 p.m. (CST), Friday in the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle inside Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
• That game will air on FS1.
• Houston returns to Fertitta Center to play host to Rice at 7 p.m., Dec. 9, in a game airing on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
• From there, the Cougars continue their homestand when they meet Jackson State at 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9, inside Fertitta Center.
• That game will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC and the Varsity Network app.

SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.

Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win as we begin Big 12 competition. Click here to rise and be counted.

JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.

Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.

For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.

– UHCougars.com –

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